How to Handle Internal Conflicts in Your Band Part 2: Time

Maybe one of your band members is in demand as a session player, and is juggling several different projects at the same time.

Or maybe they have a highly demanding job or a family to look after. Maybe that’s you.

You can never escape from the reality that creative projects take time. But if you don’t have a good handle on how to manage time, you’ll find it very challenging to sustain a music career of any kind.

Time is a major factor in any band. You need time to rehearse, to practice, to plan. You need time to play shows, to meet fans, to promote your music.

As result, time can easily become a source of contention.

Serious Issues & Trivial Issues

When you’re trying to work out an internal conflict related to time, you have to be aware that some issues are trivial and easily solved, while others are serious issues that need to be resolved.

For example, if your band members say they can’t come to practice because their favorite TV show is on at a certain time, you know for a fact that they aren’t serious about playing in a band. That’s trivial.

On the other hand, if a band member is experiencing major financial troubles in their life and they need to sort some things out before they can focus on the band, that’s serious. In such an instance, you can proceed however you see fit – replace the band member, give them a grace period, help them work out their difficulties, or any alternative that best serves the situation.

4 Tips on How to Handle Time Related Conflicts

Here are four tips on how to handle time related conflicts:

Don’t over-commit. Creative people often like to start a lot of different things and keep busy. But trying to do too much too soon is a sure way to burn out and even sabotage profitable relationships and opportunities. If music is what you want to do, then don’t try to do too many things at once. Limit your focus.

Prioritize. More than likely, there are things in your schedule that don’t belong there. If TV time and a night out with the gang is taking precedent over your career, you aren’t serious about what you’re trying to accomplish. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t rest or have fun. I’m just saying that you need to protect what’s important to you. Keep the main thing the main thing.

Plan ahead. Stop planning band rehearsals one week ahead. Once you’ve found a time that works for everyone, call a time for a weekly practice that can continue indefinitely until further notice. Whether you’re organizing a show or a band meeting, plan ahead and ensure that everyone knows where they need to be and when. Send out a reminder a week beforehand just in case.

Keep commitments. The more reliable you are, the simpler the things get. Don’t say “yes” when you really mean “no.” If you agreed to show up to a lunch, be there. No matter what you’ve committed to, follow through. This will boost your confidence, and others will also see you as being more dependable.

Final Thoughts on Internal Conflicts Related to Time

Assuming you’ve done everything in your power to align everyone’s schedule and you’re still running into issues, it may be time to let go of the band members that are causing issues.

If you want to know what someone values, stop listening to their words and start watching their actions. People are always revealed by their actions. If someone isn’t showing up, it’s because they don’t value the band as much as other things in their life, plain and simple.

Don’t be too quick to judge, but don’t be too lenient either. You need to walk a happy middle.

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David Andrew Wiebe has built an extensive career in songwriting, live performance, recording, session playing, production work, investing, and music instruction. In addition to helping musicians unlock their full potential, he also continues to maintain a performance schedule with Long Jon Lev and Adrenalize. If you'd like to be notified whenever the blog is updated, click here to subscribe.